How can you evaluate the impact of research on disaster response?

1 Define your impact goals

The first step to evaluate the impact of research on disaster response is to define what you want to achieve with your research. What are the specific changes or benefits that you expect your research to produce for the disaster response system, the affected population, or the broader society? How do these align with the needs and priorities of the stakeholders involved in disaster response? How will you know if your research has made a difference? By setting clear and realistic impact goals, you can focus your evaluation efforts and communicate your value to others.

2 Choose your impact indicators

The next step to evaluate the impact of research on disaster response is to choose indicators that will measure your progress towards your impact goals. Indicators are data points that can show the changes or benefits generated or contributed to by your research. They can be qualitative or quantitative, direct or indirect, short-term or long-term, depending on your impact goals and the availability of data. For instance, some possible indicators of research impact on disaster response include the number and type of citations, references, or acknowledgements of your research by disaster responders, policymakers, or media outlets; the adoption or adaptation of findings, recommendations, or tools; the improvement or innovation of disaster response policies, practices, or outcomes based on evidence or influence; and feedback or testimonials from stakeholders who have used or benefited from your research.

3 Collect your impact data

The third step to evaluate the impact of research on disaster response is to collect the data that will inform your indicators. Depending on the type and source of data, you may need to use different methods and tools to gather, store, and analyze them. Surveys, interviews, focus groups, or case studies with stakeholders can provide insight into how your research was used or affected. Additionally, bibliometric, altmetric, or webometric analysis can be used to measure the online visibility of your research publications, outputs, or activities. Document analysis of policy documents, reports, guidelines, or evaluations that cite or reference your research can also be beneficial. Lastly, outcome harvesting, contribution analysis, or theory of change can be employed to trace and verify the causal links between your research and changes or benefits observed in the disaster response system.

4 Communicate your impact findings

Communicating the impact of research on disaster response is the final step to evaluate its success. Doing so can demonstrate your accountability, credibility, and value as a researcher, as well as share lessons learned and recommendations for improvement. Writing an impact report, brief, or case study is one effective way to communicate your impact findings. Alternatively, you can create an impact story, infographic, video, or podcast to illustrate the human stories behind the numbers or data. Additionally, presenting your findings at a conference or meeting with stakeholders can be beneficial. Lastly, publishing your impact findings in a journal or media outlet can raise awareness and interest in your research topic and impact.